Block-signal system.



,No.gvvamo. 7 LMTBNTED o cT. z5, v19041:.

HQW. SOUDBR. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

ArrLIoAnoN FILED Dm. '1, 1903'. l no MODEL. -2 SHEETS-snm' 1.

lNo. 773.040. Y .PATENTED 00T. 25, 1904.

- H. W. SOUDBR.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. A APPLICATION FILED DEUQ'I'I, 1903.

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- QY/@fbweo-oa No. 773.040. I

UNITED STATES" Patented oetobe'rw'as, 1904.

' PATENT OEEICE.

HALF TO W. D. ZEHNER,v OF LANSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,040, dated October25, 1904.

' Application filed December 7,1903. Serial 4No. 184,021. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWELL W. SouDER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Tamaqua, SchuylkillV county, State ofPennsylvania, have'invc-nted certain new'` and useful Improvements inBlock-SignalSysftems. of which the following is a specification.A

My invention relates in general to electrical signaling devices; andmore specifically it consists of an improved system of home and distancesignals designed primarily to be used on electric trolley-roads and inits form employing semaphores' The preferred arrangement of circuits andapparatus embodying my invention is diagramniatically illustrated in theaccompanying two sheets of drawings, in which* Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view of one end of a block to which my system has beenapplied; and Fig. la is a diagrammatic view of the other end of saidblock, the two views taken together forming a complete system for oneblock. A j Throughout the drawings like reference-tigures indicate likeparts.

l indicates the trolley-wire, broken away at the middle of the drawings.2 represents a turnout at the west end of the block, and 3.

a turnout at theeast end of the block. 4 represents a signal-frog nearthe west end of the block, and 5 a similar signal-frog near the east endof the block The normally open contact-maker 4a is temporarily closed bythe passage of the trolley-wheel of, a car entering the block, and thenormally open contact 4'D is temporarilyclosed by the passage of atrolley-wheel passing out of the block.

The contact-makers 5a 5h on the signal-frog at the east end of the blockperform similar functions.

6 is the feed-conductor, extending along the line ofthe track. and 7 isthe signal -conductor, extending along the block and having two magnets8 and 8L energized by the current passing through said signal-conductor.9 represents a circuit-controller at the east end of the block, and- 10.a similar circuitcontroller at the west end of the block. The

east circuit-controller has an arm 9, divided preferred.:v

electrically into two. sections by the insulating block 9X, one of saidsections, as the lower one, being connected to the signal-conductor 7.Said circuit-controller also has a contactarm 9b, connected to theground by the wire y19, while in the same way the circuit-con- 10b,connected to the ground-wire 20.

From the contact-maker 5a extends a wire 11, connected to the coils ofthe electromagnet 13 and thence to the ground. In the same way a wire 12extends from the contactmaker 4, is connected to the coils of theelectromagnet 14, and thence to the ground. The magnet 1 3 operates apawl-lever 15, and the magnet 14 operates a pawl-lever 16, saidpawl-levers coperating with ratchet-wheels on their respectivecircuit-controllers..

A feed connection 17 extends from the feedwire 6 to the stationaryContact 17a, which cooperates with both sections of the contactarm 9L ofthe circuit-controller 9. In the same' way a feed connection 18 extendsto the stationary7 contact 18, which cooperates with both sections ofthe contact-arm 1()a on the circuit-controller 10.

19UL and 19h are vstationary contacts on which the contact-arm 9balternately bears, and 2OEL and 2Ob are stationary contacts on which thecontact-arm l()b alternately bears.

21 isa connection from the contact-maker Y5b to one extremity `of thecoil of the magnet 23, and 22 is asimilar connection from thecontact-maker 4'b to one end of the coil of the electric magnet 24. Theother end of the coil of the electromagnet 23 is connected to thecontact 19h, and said magnet actuates the pawl-lever 25. In the same waythe other end of the coil of the electromagnet 24 is connected to thecontact 20", and -said magnet'actuates the pawl-lev'er 26.

27 is a conductor extending along the block, which I call theresetting-conductor and which connects the feed-wires 2l and 22. Thisresetting-conductor 27 has a break at 28 in its main line, said breakbeing controlled by a normally open circuit-closer 29. Thiscircuitcloser is controlled by the electromagnet 30, which is energizedby the passage of current in the signal-conductor 7. There is a shunt 31extending around the break in the resetting-conductor, and the currentin this shunt energizes the magnet 32, which also controls thecircuit-closer 29, its attraction being opposite to that ot' the magnet30. 33 is a resistance included in the shunt 31, so as to make it ahigh-resistance shunt. The operation o'f this yportion of the apparatus,however, is fully described and the same claimed in the pendingapplication of Howell lV. Sonder and John Early, Serial No. 184,020,tiled December 7, ,1903, and I will not further refer to same herein.

34 is a semaphore near the west end of the block, which is normally inthe position shown in dotted lines, which corresponds to the dangerposition. 35 is a similar semaphore near the east end of the block,which is shown in full lines in the danger position and in dotted linesin the safety position. The semaphore 34 is operated by the swinginglever 34, which is pulled down by magnet 36 when the same is energized.In the same way the semaphore 35 is controlled by the lever 35, which ispulled down by the magnet 37 when the same is energized.

38 is an electric circuit extending from the upper section of thecircuit-controller contact-arm 10" to the ground through the coils ofthe magnet 36. 39 is a similar circuit eX tending from the upper sectionof the contact-arm 9 through the magnet 37 to the ground. The circuit 38hasa break 38, and the circuit 39 has a break 39, which is normally lettopen except when closed by the swinging up of the circuit-closers 40 and41, which are respectively pulled up by the magnets 8 and 8".

42 is a circuit permanently connected to the feed-wire 6 and extendingthrough the lamps 44 44 46 46 to the ground at the west end of theblock. This circuit is normally broken at 42", excepting when closed bythe circuit-closer 40. In the same way the circuit 43 extends from thefeed-wire 6 through the lamps 45 45 47 47 to the ground and is normallybroken at 43 except when closed by the circuit-closer 41. The lamps 4646 may be strung along at any desirable distance beyond the end of theblock and beyond the west turnout 2, and in the same way the lamps 47 47may be strung out to the east of the block and beyond the east turnout3. The lamps 44 and 45 are preferably carried by the semaphore-arms.

The operation of my invention is as follows: A block being empty, thecircuit-controller 10 is in the position shown in dotted lines, thesemaphore 34 in the position shown in dotted lines, and thecircuit-closeas 40 and 41 both in their lowcrmost position, as shown indotted lines, the other portions ol the east end of the system being inthe position shown in full lines. It' now a car enters the block fromthe west end, it operates the circuit-coin troller in the manner whichwill be well understood from the drawings and fully described in myprior patent, No. 735,416, dated August 4, 1903, to swing thecontact-arm 10" on to the contact 18 and cut out the ground connection20. The current then goes through the signal-conductor 7 and energizesthe magnets 8 and 8. The circuit-closcrs 40 and 41 are then pulled upinto the position shown in full lines, closing all the breaks 38", 39,42", and 43". The closing ot the break 38" causes current from thefeed-wire 6 to pass through the wire 18, Contact 18", upper section ofswinging arm 10, through circuit 38 and to the ground, therebyenergizing the magnet 36 and throwing the semaphore 34 up in thefull-line position, which is the' safety position. The circuit 39,ln'iwever, getting no current, inasmuch as the arm 9" is not in contactwith the contact-piece 17 and the insulation 9X cuts it olf from wire39, the semaphore 35 is not disturbed, but re mains in the dangerposition. Accordingly a car following the car in the block the niotormanwill see the semaphore 34 at sal'ety and will know that there is a carin the block going in the same direction that he is going and willaccordingly follow under control or remain on the switch, according tothe instructions. The closing of the break 42 establishes the circuit 42and causes all the lamps 44 and 46 to glow. 1n the salue way the closingof the break 43" establishes the circuit 43 and causes the lamps 45 and47 also toglow. Accordingly the motorman of a car approaching from theeast will see the semaphore 35 in the danger position with the lampsglowing and know that there is a car in the block coming toward him, andaccordingly he will remain on the switch. The lamps 46 and 47 beingspaced appropriately beyond the ends ol the block serve asdistance-signals, so that the motorman olE an appreaching car given apreliminary warning as to the condition of the block belore he reachesthe home signal. Il he linds the lamps glowing, he knows that there is acar in the block aheadjol him, and hisattention is accordingly directedwith greater care to the semaphore or home signal, which will tell himby its position whether the car so in thcblock is coming toward. him oris going in the same direction as he is. It the lamps do not glow, themotorman knows that the block is empty and that he can safely go aheadat full speed.

1f he lind the lirst lamp glowing and the remaining lamps or some oithem not glowing, he knows that there 1s a car ahead ot hnn 'which wasin the block when he passed the IOO IOS

llO

first lamp, but which got out of the block by the time he reached thefirst lamp which was not glowing. In this way very full and accurateinformation is given as to the condition of each block. A car passingout of the block resets the semaphore at the far end of the block atdanger and extinguishes all the lamps. A car backing out of a block doesthe same to the semaphore at its end of the block, and twocars enteringthe block from opposite directions in spite of the signals set bothsemaphores at danger and extinguish the lamps.

y The advantages 4of my invention comprise 1the positive and individualoperation of the semaphores, the accurate information conveyed by thelamps both as distance and home signals, and the entirely automaticcharacter of the whole system, the signals all setting at dangerwhenever any of the circuits are interrupted.

It is evident that various forms of mechanism could be employed tocarryout the principles of my invention, and I have only illustrated thesamediagrammatically. Mechanical means might be substituted forelectrical apparatus in many'cases, and other forms of circuit-closers,magnets, and signals 4might be substituted for those which I haveillustrated. .Allsuch modifications will, however,

be still within the scope of my invention so long as the characteristicfeatures thereof are retained.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto protect by Letters Patent, is-

'1. In an electric block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, asignal-conductor extending alongsaid block, feed ".onnectionsnear eachend of the block, a circuit-controller near each end of theblock, mechanism operated by the passage `of a car into the block toactuate the circuit-controller near that end and connect thesignal-conductor with the feed at that end, a semaphore near each end ofthe block, electrical mechanism actuating said semaphore and having acircuit controlled by the circuit-controller at that`end of the block,an independent circuitcloser for said circuit, and mechanism actuated bythe passage of current in the signal-conductor to operate saidcircuit-closer.

Q. In an electric block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, a signal-conductor extending alongsaid block,.

feed connections near each end of the block, a circuit-controller neareach end of the block, mechanism operated lby the passage of a car intothe block to actuate the circuit-controller near that end and connectthat end of the signal-conductor with the feed, a semaphore n'ear eachend of the ergized to throw said semaphore to safety and having acircuit adapted to be connected block normally standing atdangen anelectromagnet adapted when enwith the feed by the same movement of thecircuit-controller which connects the -signalconductor with said feed, anormally open switch for said circuit and an electromagnet whosecoilsare included in the circuit of the signal-conductor arranged to closesaid switch when energized.

3. In an electric block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, a signal-conductor extending along said block, feed connectionsnear each end of the block, a circuit-controller near each end of theblock, mechanism operated bythe passage of a car4 into the block toactuate the circuit-controller near that end and connect thesignal-conductor with the feed at that end, a semaphore near each end ofthe block, electrical mechanl ism actuating said semaphore and having acircuit controlled by the circuit-controller at that end of the block,an independent circuitcloser for said circuit, and mechanism actuated bythe passage of currentin the signal- `conoluctor to operate saidcircuit-closer, to,

gether with a second circuit also controlled by said circuit-closer, anda series of telltale devices operated by the current passing throughsaid second circuit.

4C. In anA electric block-signal system for railroads, the combinationof a block, a signal-conductor extending along said block, feedconnections near each end of the block, a circuit-controller near eachend of the block, mechanism operated by the passage of a car into theblock to actuate the circuit-controller near that end and connect thatend of the signal-conductor with the feed, a semaphore near each end ofthe block normally standing at dangen an electromagnet adapted whenenergized to throw said semaphore to safety and having. a circuitadapted to be connected with kthe feed by the same movement of thecircuit-controller which connects the signalconductor with said feed, anormally open switch for said circuit and an electromagnet whose coilsare included in the circuit of the signal-conductor arranged to closesaid switch when energized, together with a 'second circuit permanentlyconnected with the feedsupply, a normally open switch in said second`circuit also controlled by the second electromagnet, and a series oftelltale devices included in said second circuit.

5. In an electric block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, asignalconductor extending alongsaid block, feed connectionsnear each end of the block, a circuit-controller near each end of theblock, mechanism operated by the passage of a car into the block toactuate the circuit-controller near that end and connect that end of thesignal-conductor with the feed, a semaphore near each end of the blocknormally standing at danger, an electromagnet adapted when energized tothrow said semaphore -to safety and having a circuit adapted to beconnected IOS with the feed by the same movement of thecircuit-controller which connects the signalconductor with said feed, anormally open switch for said circuit and an electromagnet whose coilsare included in the circuit of the signal-conductor arranged to closesaid switch when energized, together with a second circuit permanentlyconnected with the feed-supply, a normally open switch in said secondcircuit also controlled by the second electromagnet, and a series oftelltale devices includedin said second circuit, certain of saidtelltale devices being electric lamps-mounted on the semaphore-arms.

6. In an electric* block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, a signalconductor extending along said block, feed connectionsnear each end of the block, a circuit-controller near each end of theblock, mechanism operated by the passage of a car into the block toactuate the circuit-controller near that end and connect that end of thesignal-conductor with the feed, a semaphore near each end of the blocknormally standing at Ldangerf an electromagnet adapted when energized tothrow said semaphore to safety and having a circuit adapted to beconnected with the feed by the same movement of the circuit controllerwhich connects the signal-conductor with said feed, a normally openswitch for said circuit and an electremagnet whose coils are included inthe circuit of the signal-conductor arranged to close said switch whenenergized, together with a second circuit permanently connected with thefeed-supply, a normally open switch in said second circuit alsocontrolled by the second electromagnet, and a series of telltale devicesincluded in said second circuit, certain of said telltale devices beinglocated outside of the block and serving as distance-signals therefor.

7. ln a block-signal system for railroads, the combination of a block, ahome signal near each end of the block, means actuated h v a carentering a block to operate the home signal at that end of the blockonly, distance-signals located beyond each end of thel block, and meansaetuated'by a car entering the block to set all of saiddistance-signals.

8. In ablocl-signal system for railroads, the combination of a block, asemaphore near each end of the block normally at "danger, means actuatedby a car entering either end of the block to throw the semaphore nearthat end only to safety, a distance-signal beyond each end of the blockand means actuated by a car entering the block to set all of saiddistance-signals.

9. ln an electric block-signal system for railroads, the combination ofa block, a semaphore near each end of the block normally at dangeigmeans actuated by a car entering either end of a block to throw thesemaphore near that end to safetyf a series of electric lamps, some ofwhich are mounted on said semaphores, while others are strung` along thetrack beyond the ends of the block, and means actuated by a carenteringv either end of the block to illuminate all said lamps at bothends of the block.

Signed at Lansford this 2d day of I )ecember, 1903.

HOW'ELL lV. SOUDEH.

W'itnesSGS:

C. A. FU'rz, HUGH EDGAR.

